It’s becoming a little too predictable, and yet here we are again. Steven Guilbeault said something not even that controversial—that we have enough roads to suit our needs so the government isn’t going to spend more infrastructure dollars on major projects to grow them, while they focus on other things like transit and active transport. He’s not even terribly wrong for the most part—there is reams of evidence to show that expanding roads and highways doesn’t cure congestion but merely causes more, so the focus should be on other priorities.
Predictably, everyone freaked out—Conservatives went into full meltdown, and the premiers all lined up to howl about this, when again, they know he’s not wrong, and oh, by the way, there isn’t any money left in the infrastructure fund anyway, so why does it matter? Guilbeault was trotted out to say that he should have been more specific in his comments, and he was mostly referring to the Third Link proposal in Quebec City, which they have no intention of funding, but of course, by that point, the narrative is set as chuds across the Internet have been memeing this for all it’s worth.
I know we're supposed to be feeling like Guilbeault's comments were sanctimonious, but I'm a little more worried he's out of touch in that he doesn't seem to understand THE FEDS CURRENTLY HAVE NO MORE MONEY LEFT TO DIRECT TO BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, HWYS OR OTHERWISE. pic.twitter.com/Q1gQHZu2PF
— Dr. J Robson (@JenniferRobson8) February 14, 2024
I explained it all here:https://t.co/r6zL6Oa3Yb thinking about the Opposition but I didn't realize a Cabinet minister might need this info too.
— Dr. J Robson (@JenniferRobson8) February 14, 2024
Dunking on Guilbeault has become something of a national preoccupation, and news media likes nothing more than to both-sides this sort of thing, taking the bait to continue to give uncharitable readings and framing this as he and the government being “out of touch.” If there’s one thing that makes everyone angry, it’s the whole “war on the car” bullshit that keeps incredibly bad city councillors and mayors in power across this country. And we wonder why we are incapable of serious discourse in this country?
Provinces: we have exclusive jurisdiction over works and undertakings within the province and we will not have the federal government telling us what we can and can't do.
Also provinces: How can we possibly be expected to continue without federal government funding for roads?— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) February 14, 2024
Alberta: we don't like the fact that Alberta pays more than its share of federal taxes and thus funds more than its per-capita share of federal spending.
No one: Um, then isn't that exacerbated when feds pay for things like roads.
Alberta: Shut-up.— Andrew Leach (@andrew_leach) February 14, 2024
https://twitter.com/s_guilbeault/status/1757961974137168362
Ukraine Dispatch:
Ukrainian forces say that they used naval drones to sink a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea. Here is an explainer of the security assurances that Ukraine is signing with a number of countries including Canada.
Happy Valentine's Day!
The Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with @DI_Ukraine, destroyed the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship. pic.twitter.com/5LEizZbR99— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) February 14, 2024
According to Minayeva, a woman was found dead in a destroyed home following a Russian missile strike that targeted a residential area.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 15, 2024